Chernobyl Revisited: The New Safe Confinement, Drone Attack, and the Uncertain Future of Decommissioning

The B1M examines Chernobyl from the 1986 catastrophe to the 2025 drone attack on the New Safe Confinement NSC, analyzing how international collaboration built a century‑long shield around reactor 4 and what the recent damage means for the site’s future.

Overview

The film traces the arc of Chernobyl since the 1986 accident, highlighting the failure mode of reactor 4 and the evolution of containment strategies, culminating in a 2025 drone strike that damaged the New Safe Confinement NSC. It juxtaposes engineering triumph with ongoing risk as Ukraine faces war and funding pressures.

Background: The Chernobyl Disaster and the Shelter Evolution

The 1986 explosion was not a bomb detonation but a runaway nuclear reaction that released a cloud of fission products. The video explains why the core and surrounding structures remained dangerous and why the early shelter, the sarcophagus, was a stopgap that later required replacement. The story then moves to the NSC, designed to entomb reactor 4 for about 100 years and built via a global funding effort led by institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

• Initial containment: the sarcophagus completed in 1986 after 206 days of frantic construction.
• Two challenges: preventing dust release if the sarcophagus failed and enabling inside access for dismantling the fuel inventory.
• The NSC dimensions: 160 m long, 260 m wide, 108 m high, built in two halves to accommodate the site constraints.

The New Safe Confinement NSC: Design and Move

The NSC is described as a vast two‑piece hangar built on rails, capable of hermetically sealing reactor 4 and the sarcophagus. Its inner roof reflects gamma rays, while the outer roof sheds rain and snow. An annular space with humidity control and a high‑pressure air system keeps the structure intact and prevents leaks. The project required assembling the arch from the top down and sliding the halves into place, a feat of logistics and precision engineering. The NSC’s 36,000‑tonne mass sits on skid shoes that travel along Teflon rails, achieving a final position after about two weeks of travel at roughly 10 meters per hour.

Drone Strike of 2025: Damage and Threats

On February 14, 2025, a drone strike penetrated the NSC’s roof, creating a hole in the upper and lower roof segments and compromising the air‑tight seal. Firefighters battled a smoldering fire that spread through the roof cladding as extreme Ukrainian winter conditions, including −16 C temperatures, hindered water access. It required multiple fire hoses and nearly a three‑week effort to bring the blaze under control, with extensive damage to cladding and the roof, and concerns about radioactive dust release if the shelter were to fail further.

War, Funding, and Human Capital: The 2022–2025 Context

The video details how the 2022 Russian invasion disrupted the CHNPP site, with Russian troops briefly capturing the area and triggering radiation exposure events. The conflict disrupted access routes, including a dedicated train line and a nearby bridge, complicating personnel movement and site operations. It also strained funding for ongoing decommissioning, as Ukraine shifted from international financing to domestic priorities amid the war. The show notes that many experts have left the site, creating a knowledge gap that will take years to close.

What Happens Next: Short-Term Patches and Long-Term Questions

Authorities are pursuing quick fixes to patch holes and restore the protective envelope around reactor 4, but the long‑term plan remains unclear. Detaching and moving the affected half of the NSC was studied but ruled out as impossible. There is debate about whether to extend the NSC’s operational life beyond the original 100‑year target and how to adapt the containment solution to future conditions. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and CHNPP teams are seeking funding and engineering solutions to enable safe dismantling while preserving community safety.

Hope and Collaboration: The International Response

Despite the tragedy, the video emphasizes progress achieved through international collaboration and a continued commitment from organizations such as the EBRD and CHNPP to safeguard Chernobyl. The host suggests that the global community recognizes the site’s importance and is willing to support Ukraine through difficult times, reinforcing a message of resilience and shared responsibility.

Wrap-Up: The Path Forward for Chernobyl

The closing thoughts underscore a cautious optimism grounded in the demonstrated effectiveness of cross‑border cooperation. The CHNPP team, despite enormous obstacles, remains determined to repair and decommission the site, and the NSC continues its century‑long watch. The video ends with a call to support mental health in construction and a reminder of the ongoing work to maintain safe and credible science communication in challenging contexts.